Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An influencing mechanism for ecological asset gains and losses and its optimization and promotion pathways in China

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Journal of Geographical Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Accounting for the gains and losses of ecological assets holds scientific significance in sustaining human well-being. Based on related research on ecological assets, we established a county-scale ecological asset accounting technology system by analyzing the temporal and spatial variations of county-level ecological assets in China from 1990 to 2018 and clarified the factors which caused the gains and losses of ecological assets. On these bases, optimization and promotion pathways were proposed. The results show that the number of counties dominated by farmland and forest ecological resources accounted for about 45% and 37% of the total counties, respectively. From 1990 to 2018, the quality of county-level ecological stock assets showed an increasing trend, while the water conservation volume decreased in nearly 70% of the counties. The number of counties with the gains (47%) and losses (37%) of ecological flow assets demonstrated spatial patterns which showed the same segmentation characteristics as the “Hu Huanyong Line”, that is, the counties in the vastness of northwest China experienced significant gains, while decreases were widespread in eastern and southern China. The change of ecological assets in more than 70% of the counties was driven by climate change and human activities. The average degree of impact of human activities driving the ecological asset gains in counties was about 80%, while that of climate change causing the ecological asset losses was about 60%. According to various ecological resource types, gain and loss status, and its driving factors, counties in China can be classified into five types: climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, ecological resources restoration, ecological resources protection, and ecological resources management. Our results indicate that differentiated optimization and promotion pathways can be adopted to achieve desired ecological asset gains.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ausseil A G E, Dymond J R, Kirschbaum M U F et al., 2013. Assessment of multiple ecosystem services in New Zealand at the catchment scale. Environmental Modelling & Software, 43: 37–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bai Yang, Li Hui, Wang Xiaoyuan et al., 2017. Evaluating natural resource assets and gross ecosystem products using ecological accounting system: A case study in Yunnan Province. Journal of Natural Resources, 32(7): 1100–1112. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Beijing Municipal Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision, 2018. Technical Specifications for Valuation of Forest Resource Assets (DB11/T 659–2018), 2018-04-04. (in Chinese)

  • Bo Wenjing, Wang Liyan, Cao Jianhua et al., 2017. Valuation of China’s ecological assets in forests. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 37(12): 4182–4190. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Pengfei, 2019. Monthly NPP dataset covering China’s terrestrial ecosystems at north of 18°N (1985–2015). Journal of Global Change Data & Discovery, 3(1): 34–41. (in Chinese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costanza R, 2018. How to retool our concept of value. Nature, 556(7701): 300–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costanza R, d’Arge R, de Groot R et al., 1997. The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature, 387(15): 253–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costanza R, de Groot R, Braat L et al., 2017. Twenty years of ecosystem services: How far have we come and how far do we still need to go? Ecosystem Services, 28: 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costanza R, Kubiszewski I, Giovannini E et al., 2014. Development: Time to leave GDP behind. Nature, 505(7483): 283–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daily G C, Sderqvist T, Aniyar S et al., 2000. The value of nature and the nature of value. Science, 2000, 289(5478): 395–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn R J H, Alexander L V, Donat M G et al., 2020. Development of an updated global land in-situ-based dataset of temperature and precipitation extremes: HadEX3. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 125 (16): doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JD032263.

  • Ehrlich P R, Kareiva P M, Daily G C, 2012. Securing natural capital and expanding equity to rescale civilization. Nature, 486(7401): 68–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fryrear D W, Saleh A, Bilbro J D, 1998. A single event wind erosion model. Transactions of the ASAE, 41(5): 1369–1374.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fu Bojie, Yu Dandan, Lu Nan et al., 2017. An indicator system for biodiversity and ecosystem services evaluation in China. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 37(2): 341–348. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao Jixi, 2013. Regional Ecological Assets Evaluation: Theory, Method and Application. Beijing: Science Press, 137–143. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gong Shihan, Xiao Yang, Zheng Hua et al., 2017. Spatial patterns of ecosystem water conservation in China and its impact factors analysis. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 37(7): 2455–2462. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Han Guangzhong, Wang Decai, Xie Xianjian et al., 2016. Pedotransfer functions for prediction of soil bulk density for major types of soils in China. Acta Pedologica Sinica, 53(1): 93–102. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Han Yongwei, Gao Jixi, Wang Baoliang et al., 2012. Evaluation of soil conservation function and its values in major eco-function areas of Loess Plateau in eastern Gansu Province. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 28(17): 78–85. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hou Peng, Fu Zhuo, Zhu Hanshou et al., 2020. Progress and perspectives of ecosystem assets management. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 40(24): 8851–8860. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu Pan, Chen Bo, Shi Peijun, 2021. Spatiotemporal patterns and influencing factors of rainstorm-induced flood disasters in China. Acta Geographica Sinica, 76(5): 1148–1162. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang B B, Li R, Ding Z et al., 2020. A new remote-sensing-based indicator for integrating quantity and quality attributes to assess the dynamics of ecosystem assets. Global Ecology and Conservation, 22: doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00999.

  • Huang Binbin, Zheng Hua, Xiao Yi et al., 2019. Effectiveness and driving forces of ecological asset protection in national key ecological function regions. Chinese Journal of Environmental Management, 11(3): 14–23. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang Lin, Cao Wei, Wu Dan et al., 2015. Assessment on the changing conditions of ecosystems in key ecological function zones in China. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 26(9): 2758–2766. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang Lin, Zheng Yuhan, Xiao Tong, 2017. Spatial variation pattern of ecological conservation and its zonal suitability at the county level in China. Acta Geographica Sinica, 72(7): 1305–1315. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang Bo, Wang Xiaoyuan, Yang Mengfei et al., 2019. Application of ecosystem services research on a protection effectiveness evaluation of the ecological redline policy. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 39(9): 3365–3371. (in Chinese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jin Kai, Wang Fei, Han Jianqiao et al., 2020. Contribution of climatic change and human activities to vegetation NDVI change over China during 1982–2015. Acta Geographica Sinica, 75(5): 961–974. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kong Lingqiao, Zhang Lu, Zheng Hua et al., 2018. Driving forces behind ecosystem spatial changes in the Yangtze River Basin. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 38(3): 741–749. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Chuanhua, Zhu Tongbin, Zhou Min et al., 2021. Temporal and spatial change of net primary productivity of vegetation and its determinants in Hexi Corridor. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 41(5): 1931–1943. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Ruiqian, Li Yongfu, Hu Heng, 2020. Support of ecosystem services for spatial planning theories and practices. Acta Geographica Sinica, 75(11): 2417–2430. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Huiming, Gao Jixi, Liu Xiao et al., 2020. Monitoring and assessment of the ecosystem services value in the national key ecological function zones. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 40(6): 1865–1876. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Yanxu, Fu Bojie, Zhao Wenwu et al., 2018. Ecological asset accounting and ecosystem services evaluation: Concept intersection and key research priorities. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 38(23): 8267–8276. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ouyang Zhiyun, Zhu Chunquan, Yang Guangbin et al., 2013. Gross ecosystem product: Concept, accounting framework and case study. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 33(21): 6747–6761. (in Chinese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pan Mei, Chen Tianwei, Huang Lin et al., 2020. Spatial and temporal variations in ecosystem services and its driving factors analysis in Jing-Jin-Ji region. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 40(15): 5151–5167. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pan Yaozhong, Shi Peijun, Zhu Wenquan et al., 2004. Quantitative remote sensing on ecological assessment of Chinese terrestrial ecosystem. Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences, 34(4): 375–384. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pema Dolkar, Xiao Yi, Ouyang Zhiyun et al., 2020. Assessment of ecological conservation effect in Xishui county based on gross ecosystem product. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 40(2): 499–509. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Song Changsu, Ouyang Zhiyun, 2020. Ecosystem product accounting for ecological benefits assessment: A case study of Qinghai Province. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 40(10): 3207–3217. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Song Changsu, Xiao Yi, Bo Wenjing et al., 2019. The ecological asset accounting method study: A case study of Qinghai Province. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 39(1): 9–23. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Jianmin, Wang Rusong, 2001. Introduction to China’s Ecological Assets. Nanjing: Phoenix Science Press. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessels K J, Prince S D, Malherbe J et al., 2007. Can human-induced land degradation be distinguished from the effects of rainfall variability? A case study in South Africa. Journal of Arid Environments, 68(2): 271–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Shaohong, Liu Lulu, Liu Yanhua et al., 2018. Geographical patterns and environmental change risks in terrestrial areas of the Belt and Road. Acta Geographica Sinica, 73(7): 1214–1225. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie Gaodi, 2017. Ecological asset evaluation: Stock, quality and value. Environmental Protection, 45(11): 18–22. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie Gaodi, Zhen Lin, Lu Chunxia et al., 2008. Expert knowledge based valuation method of ecosystem services in China. Journal of Natural Resources, (5): 911–919. (in Chinese)

  • Yang Xiaojing, Xu Zongxue, Zuo Depeng et al., 2018. Assessment on the risk of agricultural drought disaster in the three provinces of Northeast China. Acta Geographica Sinica, 73(7): 1324–1337. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • You Xu, He Dongjin, Xiao Yi et al., 2020. Assessment of eco-assets in a county area: A case of Pingbian County. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 40(15): 5220–5229. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Jie, Liu Yujie, Pan Tao et al., 2020. Ecological profit and loss accounting in the preparation of natural resources balance sheet. Journal of Natural Resources, 35(4): 755–766. (in Chinese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Tongqian, Ouyang Zhiyun, Zheng Hua et al., 2004. Forest ecosystem services and their valuation in China. Journal of Natural Resources, 19(4): 480–491. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Qing, Zhou Zixiang, Liu Ting et al., 2021. Vegetation restoration and ecosystem soil conservation service value increment in Yanhe Watershed, Loess Plateau. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 41(7): 2557–2570. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Wenquan, Zhang Jinshui, Pan Yaozhong et al., 2007. Measurement and dynamic analysis of ecological capital of terrestrial ecosystem in China. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 18(3): 586–594. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing, 100101, China

    Jiahui Li, Lin Huang & Wei Cao

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Jiahui Li

Authors
  1. Jiahui Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lin Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wei Cao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lin Huang.

Additional information

Foundation

The Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.XDA23020202

Author

Li Jiahui (1997–), Master Candidate, specialized in remote sensing of ecology and GIS.

This paper is initially published in Acta Geographica Sinica (Chinese edition), 2022, 77(5): 1260–1274.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, J., Huang, L. & Cao, W. An influencing mechanism for ecological asset gains and losses and its optimization and promotion pathways in China. J. Geogr. Sci. 32, 1867–1885 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-022-2027-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-022-2027-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation